Center Theatre (Dover-Foxcroft) facts for kids
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| Address | 20 East Main Street Dover-Foxcroft, Maine United States |
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| Coordinates | 45°11′03″N 69°13′45″W / 45.184109°N 69.229087°W |
| Type | Performing Arts Center |
| Capacity | 264 and 40 |
| Opened | June 6, 1940 |
The Center Theatre is a cool place in Dover-Foxcroft, Maine, where you can watch movies and live shows! It's located at 20 East Main Street. This theater was built way back in 1940. After being closed for many years, it was fixed up and reopened in the early 2000s. The main room has 264 seats, and there's a smaller room with 40 seats. The Center Theatre hosts live plays, music concerts, fun community events, and, of course, movies. Its second movie screen was finished in February 2021.
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A Look Back: The Center Theatre's Story
The Center Theatre was built in 1940 after the town's old theater, the New Star, burned down. Its grand opening was on June 6, 1940. In the 1950s, the theater started to become less popular. It kept running until 1971, when it closed its doors.
After it closed, different businesses used the theater's lobby, like restaurants and video arcades. But the main auditorium was empty.
Bringing the Theatre Back to Life
In 1998, a group of local people formed the Center Theatre Group. Their goal was to save the old building and turn it into a performing arts center. They worked hard to fix it up! This included:
- Repairing the concrete supports under the auditorium
- Adding new entry doors
- Installing a sprinkler system for safety
- Updating the plumbing, electricity, and heating/cooling systems
- Making the stage bigger
- Adding a special walkway (called a catwalk) for stage lights
The old sign (marquee) was taken down in 1974 because people worried it might fall. But a new one was made and put back up on October 29, 2004. It was lit up in December 2004, 30 years after the first one was removed! In 2016, the lights on the marquee were changed from old fluorescent lights to new, energy-saving LED lights.
The newly fixed-up theater, now called the Center Theatre for the Performing Arts, had its big reopening in August 2006. This was 66 years after it first opened! The very first movie shown in April 2007 was Gone With the Wind. This movie was chosen because the theater wasn't built in time to show it in 1940.
In 2013, with help from the community, the Center Theatre got a new digital projector. This is a modern projector that shows movies from computer files instead of film. The old 35mm film projector is now on display in the lobby. It even has a time capsule sealed inside it from 2016, celebrating the theater's 10-year anniversary.
In February 2021, a second movie screen was finished! This smaller "Off-Center Theatre" has 40 seats. It lets the theater show more new movies, plus documentaries and independent films.
On May 22, 2021, the Center Theatre won the Golden Apple Award from the Maine Education Association. This award celebrates groups that help local schools and children in the community.
Slightly Off-Center Players
The Slightly Off-Center Players is a community theater group that works closely with the Center Theatre. They put on live plays! Some of their past shows include Fiddler on the Roof, A Christmas Carol, and The Sound of Music. Their shows have featured actors of all ages, including kids and adults.
This group also offers fun learning chances, like summer drama camps for children. In September 2021, the Theatre started an after-school arts and theater program just for high school students.
Maine Whoopie Pie Festival
The Center Theatre helps organize the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival every year. This super popular event brings over 8,000 people to downtown Dover-Foxcroft! At the festival, you can try whoopie pie samples from many different bakers across Maine. There are also live bands, fun activities for kids, and local sellers.
Downtown's Historic Look
In September 2021, the Center Theatre helped create a National Commercial Historic District in downtown Dover-Foxcroft. This special area covers East Main Street. Being a Historic District means that building owners can get tax benefits if they fix up their property. It also helps non-profit groups in the area get grants (money) for projects. This helps keep the downtown area looking great and supports local businesses.
